what is a steering course on a hammered dulcimer?

by Alfredo Crist Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago 4 min read

What is a hammered dulcimer?

What size tuning pins do I need for a hammered dulcimer?

(Ordinarily, 5 mm "zither pins" are used, similar to, but smaller in diameter than piano tuning pins, which come in various sizes ranging upwards from "1/0" or 7 mm.) The strings of the hammered dulcimer are often tuned according to a circle of fifths pattern.

How long does a hammered dulcimer stay in tune?

A well-built, stable instrument can stay in tune for a few weeks in a constant environment, although changes to temperature and humidity will affect even the most stable hammered dulcimer! What kind of music can you play on a hammered dulcimer?

How do you play the dulcimer?

The player holds a small spoon-shaped mallet hammer in each hand to strike the strings (see Appalachian dulcimer ). The Graeco-Roman dulcimer ("sweet song") derives from the Latin dulcis (sweet) and the Greek melos (song).

How difficult is it to learn to play the hammered dulcimer?

Absolutely! Hammered dulcimer is one of the most satisfying instruments to learn because it's easy to make a pleasant sound right from the beginning. You can start at any age, and you can have fun with it even if you don't know any music theory and have never played an instrument before.

What are the two different types of dulcimers?

The two shapes of dulcimers that are most popular today are the hourglass and the teardrop. Both of these designs derive from older traditional dulcimers. The hourglass comes mainly from the Eastern Kentucky designs of J.

What are the notes on A hammered dulcimer?

The instrument is tuned in major scale sequences. The major scales available on most dulcimers with the traditional tuning are D, G, C, F, and sometimes A and E. B minor, E minor, and other modes associated with those major scales can also be found.

How is A hammered dulcimer tuned?

Some hammered dulcimer players tune opposite of how we do it, by starting at the top of the bass bridge and working down, then onto the treble bridge from the top down. Or some will start on the lowest bass course and go up, then the lowest treble and go up. Use whichever method is most comfortable for you!

What is the easiest dulcimer to play?

4:275:34How To Play The Dulcimer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnyone aged 5 to 105 can use this simple method to play the dulcimer. Playing melodies on the oneMoreAnyone aged 5 to 105 can use this simple method to play the dulcimer. Playing melodies on the one string that's closest to you strumming all three strings to get a nice drone harmony.

Where are the notes found on a dulcimer?

Traditionally, the Appalachian dulcimer was usually tuned to DAA, or notes with this 1-5-5 relationship. The key note is on the bass string and the middle string is an interval of a perfect fifth above it. The melody string is tuned so that the key note is at the third fret.

Is hammered dulcimer chromatic?

This instrument is not meant for someone who struggles with tuning. It takes an effort to keep everything in tune and the relationships working. Since the instrument is fully chromatic, tuning is even more important. It is not like sitting down at the piano (which stays in tune for much longer periods of time).

How much is A hammered dulcimer worth?

As a quick overview, our harps range in price from under $1,000 up to around $7,000. Our dulcimers range from about $700 to about $4,500.

How do you hold A dulcimer hammer?

1:196:40Hammer Grip: A Free Hammered Dulcimer Lesson - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo here's what I do I hold my hammers between my thumb. And my first finger my thumb follows isMoreSo here's what I do I hold my hammers between my thumb. And my first finger my thumb follows is points down the shaft of the hammer. My first finger is making a T it's perpendicular to the hammer.

What is the lowest note of A hammered dulcimer?

The bass note of the instrument is generally D or G but may vary based on the size and construction of the dulcimer. The scale pattern on the hammered dulcimer is broken into two tetrachords.

What key is A hammered dulcimer in?

18:5221:24Hammered Dulcimers Basics - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you do play in the key of a a lot well that makes it kind of handy that the key of a is builtMoreSo if you do play in the key of a a lot well that makes it kind of handy that the key of a is built into play easily just like the other keys. Now. We can still play the key of a for example on a 12-

Is the dulcimer Indian?

The hammered dulcimer is traditionally held to have been invented in Iran/Persia roughly 5,000 years ago, and been brought to Europe from the Middle East during the Crusades.

Overview

The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer, dulcimer, santouri, or tympanon) is a percussion-stringed instrument which consists of strings typically stretched over a trapezoidal resonant sound board. The hammered dulcimer is set before the musician, who in more traditional styles may sit cross-legged on the floor, or in a more modern style may stand or sit at a wooden su…

Strings and tuning

A dulcimer usually has two bridges, a bass bridge near the right and a treble bridge on the left side. The bass bridge holds up bass strings, which are played to the left of the bridge. The treble strings can be played on either side of the treble bridge. In the usual construction, playing them on the left side gives a note a fifth higher than playing them on the right of the bridge.

Hammers

The instrument is referred to as "hammered" in reference to the small mallets (referred to as hammers) that players use to strike the strings. Hammers are usually made of wood (most likely hardwoods such as maple, cherry, padauk, oak, walnut, or any other hardwood), but can also be made from any material, including metal and plastic. In the Western hemisphere, hammers are usually stiff, but in Asia, flexible hammers are often used. The head of the hammer can be left b…

Variants and adaptations

The hammered dulcimer was extensively used during the Middle Ages in England, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. Although it had a distinctive name in each country, it was everywhere regarded as a kind of psalterium. The importance of the method of setting the strings in vibration by means of hammers, and its bearing on the acoustics of the instrument, were re…

Around the world

Versions of the hammered dulcimer, each of which has its own distinct manner of construction and playing style, are used throughout the world:
• Austria – Hackbrett
• Belarus – tsymbaly (цымбалы)
• Belgium – hakkebord

External links

• Santur on Nay-Nava, the encyclopedia of Persian music instruments
• Pete Rushefsky, "Jewish Strings: An Introduction to the Klezmer Tsimbl" (Related to the Hammered Dulcimer) (archive from 27 December 2009).
• Smithsonian Institution booklet on hammered dulcimer history and playing